Louisiana 2022 Rankings Update: Newcomers to top 100

A few top prospects made one final push up Louisiana’s deep and talented 2022 class rankings with impressive senior seasons. The Boot looks poised to add one of its best classes in years to its tradition of producing high-level college and eventually NFL athletes at a per-capita rate than any other state in the country. And these 12 players made the jump into the top 100 in this round of rankings — some in their first entry to the rankings at all and others with big leaps into the double-digit range.   No. 55 [player_tooltip player_id="264706" first="Kameron" last="Hamilton"] | 6-4, 275 DL | Zachary The Tulane signee was the star up front for one of the best defensive lines and best defenses overall of the Broncos’ recent run of dominance, winning their fourth state championship in seven years in Louisiana’s highest classifications and first undefeated run in that span. Hamilton’s big body and quickness and agility gives him the ability to be a versatile playmaker up front in both run defense and pass rush. He finished his high school career with an all-state senior season of 62 tackles, including 39 for loss and nine sacks, and another 35 hurries, three fumble recoveries and two deflected passes.   No. 69 [player_tooltip player_id="127862" first="Jarvis" last="Newton"] | 5-11, 190 RB | Alexandria Injuries slowed the speedy running back’s opportunity to have a breakout senior season as the Trojans’ clear leader in the backfield, but Newton showed enough flashes when healthy to showcase some underrated Division-I potential. The multisport athlete boasts a 4.39-second 40-yard dash on the football field and a 10.42-second 100-meter on the track that he quickly puts on display in either the return game or after cutting into open space on offense. Newton is one of the state’s fastest senior backs and does so with balance, patience and a good body for the next level.   No. 74 [player_tooltip player_id="136517" first="Kylon" last="Harris"] | 6-0, 165 WR | East St. John The intriguing Wildcats athlete had a more quiet summer than anticipated on the camp and 7-on-7 circuits. But when the pads came back on this fall and his high school called upon him, Harris put on an absolute show and kept his team in multiple games against higher-profile opponents, including a shootout of a regular-season finale against St. Thomas More that left even LSU quarterback signee [player_tooltip player_id="127700" first="Walker" last="Howard"] impressed. Harris finished this season with 1,642 all-purpose yards and 20 total touchdowns. In addition to 20 catches for 544 yards and eight scores at his natural position, he rushed 30 times for 350 yards and six touchdowns and completed 27 passes for 522 yards and the other half-dozen scores. Harris also tallied 226 yards on five returns. He signed with Stephen F. Austin in December in what could prove to be a steal for the Lumberjacks.   No. 79 [player_tooltip player_id="136525" first="Jordan" last="Doucet"] | 5-9, 150 WR | Westgate Another slim-framed future college wide receiver who gave opposing defenses absolute fits all fall in a versatile role. Doucet took the reins of his Tigers’ offense when teammate Brennon Landry suffered a shoulder injury. And the result was a state championship in Westgate’s first-ever title appearance and all-district and all-state offensive MVP honors for Doucet. The Southeastern Louisiana-bound athlete finished the season with 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns on 63 percent passing, another 1,061 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing, 242 yards and two scores receiving and 218 yards and one touchdown as a return man. Even against highly touted and typically stingy powerhouse opponents Edna Karr and Warren Easton in the semifinals and finals, respectively, Doucet repeatedly frustrated defenses with his quickness, vision and decision-making on third downs and other pivotal plays.   No. 80 [player_tooltip player_id="264707" first="Rontavious" last="Richmond"] | 5-11, 195 ATH | Parkway A relative unknown outside of his corner of the state entering the fall, Richmond put together one of Louisiana’s most productive seasons and played a major roll in his Panthers upsetting a pair of higher-seeded opponents on the way to the Class 5A quarterfinals. The versatile athlete, who more likely projects as a running back in college, rushed 179 times for 1,311 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 71 passes for another 1,004 yards and 13 scores. Richmond lined up all over the field on offense and showed decent speed and great strength and balance through contact to help spring loose for a long highlight reel of explosive plays.   No. 92 [player_tooltip player_id="136593" first="Chris" last="Bess"] | 6-2, 245 DL | Southern Lab The Southern signee, who garnered some FBS looks, was among the top college prospects on the Division-IV state championship team. His size and strength created problems for opposing blockers, quarterbacks and rushers whether tallying up to his own 15 tackles for loss and five sacks or demanding extra attention that helped free up his smaller, quicker teammates.   No. 93 [player_tooltip player_id="136489" first="Collin" last="Jacob"] | 6-1, 175 ATH | Loreauville No. 94 [player_tooltip player_id="127759" first="Calep" last="Jacob"] | 6-1, 175 ATH | Loreauville The twins earned District 7-2A MVP honors, Calep on offense and Collin on defense, for the No. 2 seed in Class 2A. The classic do-everything — on the football field and in the athletic department as a whole — small-school athletes project more likely as defensive backs or potentially wide receivers. Collins finished with 118 tackles, including eight for loss, as well as five forced fumbled, seven pass breakups and a pair of interceptions. Calep, who played quarterback on offense, had 111 tackles, including four for loss, as well as seven pass breakups, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.   No. 95 [player_tooltip player_id="136614" first="Kaiden" last="Jones"] | 6-0, 215 LB | St. Charles Catholic The best returning player for the Division-III state runners-up from a year ago moved to his more likely college fit as a linebacker this season with graduated standout Mandel Eugene’s departure for Tulane and excelled as a leader on a team that completed the mission by upending Lafayette Christian for the trophy. Jones finished with 112.5 tackles, including 21 behind the line and six sacks, for one of the state’s most defensive-minded programs, including five forced fumbles, one recovery, two blocked kicks and a blocked punt.   No. 98 [player_tooltip player_id="136526" first="Braylon" last="Finney"] | 6-1, 175 WR | Captain Shreve With all eyes on eventual Alabama signee [player_tooltip player_id="136478" first="Kendrick" last="Law"], his teammate cashed in on a breakout senior season for which he had worked tirelessly throughout the past year. Finney worked his 40-yard dash time down into the 4.5-second range in the spring and continued sharpening his footwork and hands throughout the offseason and reaped the reward to the tune of 42 receptions for 924 yards and eight touchdowns, including some highlight-reel plays that showed great focus and balance.   No. 99 [player_tooltip player_id="136488" first="Zintayvious" last="Smith"] | 5-11, 165 ATH | Red River The Navy commitment made a strong case for himself as a potential college quarterback in the right system with 128 completions in 203 attempts (63.1 percent) for 2,670 yards, 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions working under a new head coach with a quarterback-training background. His performance earned all-state honors at the position in one of the most highly contested classifications at the position, including high-profile prospect [player_tooltip player_id="138484" first="Arch" last="Manning"]. And his 92 rushes for 625 yards and 11 more scores showed more of his athleticism that could allow him to fit a variety of places on the field.   No. 100 [player_tooltip player_id="136534" first="Javon" last="Davis"] | 6-0, 170 ATH | John Curtis This fall brought a disappointing record and quarterfinal exit for perennial powerhouse John Curtis, but its three-phase senior standout was among the brightest spots. Davis had primarily played wide receiver during his high school career, but transitioned predominantly to the defensive side as a senior and finished with 44 tackles, four interceptions, eight breakups, a forced fumble and a recovery with great instincts in the middle of the secondary. He also flashed good speed both closing on plays from his safety role and in the return game.